HeliCoil Needed

[Helihover]

Out fishing on anchor last Sunday and when I started the motor I heard a pop. Spark plug blew out. I plan to purchase a kit to re thread the hole. Is this pretty straight forward or is there something to watch out for? I’ve only heard of helicoils and never used one. This is on a 1973 25hp Rude. Thanks!

 

[Scott Danforth]

easy. coat the tap with grease to keep chips from dropping in. however for about the same cost of the kit, most machine shops will install a helicoil. check with your local machine shop.

 

[F_R]

The most common "gotcha" is failing to get the tap straight. If it is not straight, you will have leakage around the plug gasket. Doing it free-hand without removing the head is somewhat iffy. Especially if the plugs enter the head at an angle (not sure offhand if that is true on your motor).

I agree, for the small difference in cost, better to leave it to a pro. At least then you have somebody to kick around if it comes out sour.

BTW, that may be why he might require removing the head.

 

[oldboat1]

Done a couple, and they work. Another option is to look for a replacement cylinder head from a donor motor.

 

[Crosbyman]

dont use the spring wound type heli's use the black ones made of solid steel

when inserted they need to be crimped in .... just follow instrcutions

use the proper length one

 

[Mudwiser]

Helicoils will get the job done. I would suggest time-sert or ez loc. Time-serts are much better for long time repairs. They are very costly. These are used alot to repair Aluminum blocks for head bolt holes. You drill and tap just like you would for a heliciol. But you install the steel insert. Put lock tight on outer threads then insert in the hole with the installation tool. It will so call crimp or swedge the sleeve.

 

[Helihover]

Excellent advice from all of you guys. Thank you very much.

I called the marina to talk to them about it. They dont install helicoils, but did say I could probably find a used head for about 20 bucks. Plus another 30 or so for a gasket. I really did not want to pull the head.

Having worked years in a machine shop, I know they usually have a 1 hr minimum. Which would probably work out to about the same as above with me having to remove the head, plus the gasket.

So I goes down to the local auto shop you know people..... They had kits with the black steel inserts made specifically for spark plugs. I picked one up for 30 bucks and a tube of red silicone. I think it took me all of 20 minutes to do and I feel it came out great. We will see this weekend. This is a very simple straight forward process. The grease on the tap worked perfect for attracting the chips.

Thank you you for all your feed back which made this job a slam dunk!

 

[Bonaventure]

I would pull the head and take it to a machine shop. You only need a torque wrench, to know the torque and to torque it in the right pattern. You should torque it down in increments of about 1/3 of the torque. Generally the torque pattern is starting from the center, going to the bolt directly across and working out to the outer edges.

A lot of the problem with Spark Plug Thread Failure is that the Plug is over-torqued into the Aluminum head. I think mine are in at about 15 ft/lbs with a Torque Wrench.

 

[racerone]

Rule is----Loosen the plugs with a wrench , then take them out using fingers.----Install new ones with fingers and tighten the last bit with a wrench.-----If you have to take plugs out once a week there is something wrong with the motor.----Motor needs attention.

 

[Helihover]

I took my boat out yesterday on the Columbia and all is well. I ran a couple of gallons through it at WOT with zero issues. Upon inspection I found nothing out of the ordinary.

My buddy and I fished the one day opener on the Columbia and caught a spring chinook. I posted a video in the fishing section where you can see the huge line at the dock, my boat, and our fish we had to let go

 

[oldboat1]

Hey -- Thanks! I think that video is the best follow-up post I've seen. :first:

 

[Helihover]

Hey -- Thanks! I think that video is the best follow-up post I've seen. :first:

Ha Ha Thank You,

 

[oldboat1]

Think you will need a bigger boat if you go out over the Columbia bar! Years ago, we fished off charters out of Westport in Washington. That would have been the Chehalis River, I think — not the Columbia, but plenty scary for my tastes.

 

[Helihover]

I will venture out into the bays to crab, but I will never cross any bar in that boat Just too small and under powered. It gets tossed around pretty good on the Columbia.